Despite Reach, Chicago Bears Address TE Need By Selecting Cole Kmet

With the 43rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft the Chicago Bears select tight end Cole Kmet from Notre Dame.
Kmet was a two-sport athlete for the Fighting Irish, excelling as a pitcher on the baseball team. He suffered an arm injury on the baseball diamond that prevented him from starting Week 1 last season but still put together a decent stat line with 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns.
He has great size at 6-foot-6, 262 pounds — making him an ideal in-line tight end. Despite being one of the bigger tight ends in this class, he tested as one of the better athletes at the combine. He ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash, which was faster than some players who were 20 pounds lighter. He also showed off some explosiveness, finishing with the top vertical (37 inches) and broad jumps (10’03’’) at the position.
With his big frame and great athleticism, he has the potential to develop into a reliable receiver and capable blocker. Although, he still needs to improve in both areas before seeing a large role in the offense. Kmet will work as the “Y” tight end for the Bears to compliment Jimmy Graham.
Kmet was my top tight end in the class, but there were better players available when the Bears were on the clock. It seems as though Ryan Pace committed the cardinal sin of the NFL Draft: reaching for a need.
We’ll have a more in-depth breakdown of Kmet soon, so stay tuned and make sure to follow The Chicago Audible on all social media platforms to follow along with the rest of the draft.